This is one in a series about applications for artificial intelligence in radio.
SPECai is an ad creation platform from ENCO and its partners that allows a broadcast sales team to create localized spec ads on demand while sitting with clients. Ken Frommert is ENCO’s president.
Radio World: When generative AI burst into our general awareness more than two years ago, our industry realized that it could change radio workflows drastically. Has that come to pass?
Ken Frommert: The promise of AI has always centered on working smarter — enhancing efficiency, streamlining workflows and unlocking new creative possibilities.
At ENCO, we embraced this potential early on, previewing the foundations of SPECai and aiTrack at NAB Show 2023.
Since then, we’ve demonstrated how generative AI can be seamlessly integrated into broadcast operations to automate routine tasks, personalize content and enable talent to focus on what they do best.
Much like we did with the launch of DAD over 30 years ago, we’re once again helping broadcasters evolve, this time with AI tools that are practical, reliable and built for the unique demands of radio.
The result is not just operational efficiency, but entirely new ways to engage audiences and deliver content.
RW: Potential applications for AI seem almost endless. In what areas of radio are ENCO’s tools finding the most uptake?
Frommert: SPECai has been a runaway success. Its impact was immediate, which sent a message that instant spec spot creation was precisely what broadcasters needed for their ad sales efforts.
Along with our partners at Benztown and Compass Media Networks, we designed SPECai to essentially become part of the ad sales team. It was a toolset that account executives could quickly learn to use, and one that management could see immediate value in. The ability to create scripts and build ads with voice and music directly in front of the client, and invite the client’s input, set the tone for AI acceptance in radio.
RW: What kind of queries or concerns do you get?
Frommert: One of the most common questions about SPECai is: “Can we use these spots on-air?” And that’s exactly the reaction we hoped for. SPECai was designed to create high-quality spec spots that not only impress clients but also sound broadcast-ready.
While its main purpose is to help sales teams quickly generate custom ads for client pitches, many stations do end up airing them — sometimes with minor tweaks or added branding. We built SPECai with professional voice models, music beds and copywriting logic that reflect the tone and pacing of real radio ads. So yes, the quality is there, and in some cases, stations are confidently putting them on-air.
All users react with amazement at the speed and flexibility of using SPECai. When they see how fast they can turn around a polished spot, it really clicks.
RW: What are the models your tools are based on?
Frommert: SPECai is built on top of advanced large language models, like those from OpenAI, which we’ve customized for the specific needs of radio advertising. We’ve layered in broadcast-specific logic, voice model selection, custom music bed integration from Benztown, and ad structure templates to ensure the output matches the tone, timing, and flow of real spec spots.
While the core language model does the heavy lifting for natural-sounding copy, the magic comes from how we’ve tuned it for radio workflows.
RW: How do you keep products current with evolving technology and cultural differences?
Frommert: ENCO’s products are continuously updated with the latest terminology, industry trends and linguistic data through large language models. We also gather real-world feedback from users across diverse industries and regions to ensure our solutions stay accurate, culturally relevant and aligned with emerging technologies.
This is especially important with products like SPECai and aiTrack, as this agile approach allows us to deliver AI tools that evolve in real-time with the world around them.
RW: How will AI technologies evolve further in the coming years?
Frommert: Content generation will be explosive, as will dynamic insertions. That means automatic hyperlocal content creation with real-time insertion and personalized content creation for each listener.
This is precisely what we are achieving with aiTrack in its formative stages, which we continue to enhance over time to improve performance — same as we have with SPECai. We have only really just begun to explore the interactive possibilities of AI, and we believe the ability to personalize content for each listener will only serve to grow the radio audience both online and over the air.
Read more on this topic in Radio World’s free ebook “The AI Revolution in Radio & Streaming.”
[Read More Radio World Stories About Artificial Intelligence]
